Paul O'Connell has lost his battle to be fit for Ireland's tour of New Zealand. The Munster lock, who captained Ireland in the Six Nations Championship while Brian O'Driscoll recovered from shoulder surgery, has a knee injury.

O'Connell had been undergoing rehabilitation in London this week in the hope that he could join the squad who flew to Auckland on Thursday.

The Irish Rugby Football Union said the player had "failed to progress to the level required to allow him to take an active part in the tour". Connacht's Mike McCarthy had already been called up as cover.

O'Connell is the third player to miss facing the All Blacks, following the withdrawal of the Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris and the Leinster scrum-half Isaac Boss.

Ireland play the All Blacks in Auckland on 9 June, followed by further Tests in Christchurch and Hamilton on 16 and 23 June.